Yesterday, the Olympics opened with a ceremony that was nothing short of spectacular. Trust Paris to host one of the greatest shows on Earth! The Seine lit up like a million light bulbs, transforming from a gentle glow to a dazzling blaze, as if beckoning everyone in Paris to bask in the spotlight. The world watched in awe as the singing divas, Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, took the stage, their voices soaring through the air. Not even a bit of rain could dampen the spirits of the spectators who lined up along the Seine to be part of this magnificent pageant. When it comes to throwing a party, Paris is unbeatable.
As the teams paraded in, Team India emerged with a strong contingent of 117 athletes from various sports, led by a beaming PV Sindhu and a proud Sharath Kamal. Watching them on TV, I was reminded of our last Olympics haul—seven medals. Now that the party lights are out, it's time for raw grit and glory. This time, we didn't hear any grand declarations like "Is Baar Sau Paar" (This Time, a Hundred Medals). Perhaps the nation knows it's not the Asian Games, and there are no elections ahead.
So, what are our chances? Can we dream of "Is Baar Saath Paar" (This Time, Seven Medals)? If we believe in our players, there's a chance. For instance, if the men's 4x400 relay team makes it to the podium, that's four medals right there—if we count the number of athletes rather than the events. And let's not forget, cricket isn't an event in these Olympics, or we might have walked away with 11 medals for sure.
We're rooting for hockey, a sport with a glorious past of 8 golds, 1 silver, and 3 bronzes. But how many of us know our hockey team? Some might not even know it's our national game. We have a 14-year-old swimmer eager to make us proud and a 44-year-old tennis star pushing the limits. Yet, most of us are glued to an India-Sri Lanka cricket tie, ignoring these athletes' performances. And then we criticize them when they come back with fewer medals. We have no right to criticize if we can't support our athletes and other sports.
With a population of 1,441,719,852, India knows only the Indian cricket team and BCCI. Does anyone care about the wrestling foundation or remember that we regularly qualified for Olympic football from 1948 to 1960? Where is the AIFF and its team now? Nobody remembers PK Banerjee, Neville D'Souza, or Coach Syed Abdul Rahim, under whom we reached the semi-finals in the 1956 Olympics. They are a testament to India's potential in sports if given the deserved due.
We celebrate the glories of Milkha Singh and PT Usha, and now, athletes like Neeraj Chopra, Jena, Amol Jacob, Mohammed Ajmal, Mohammed Anad, and Rajesh Ramesh. They show that India is a sporting nation capable of competing with the best. In the US, sports like rugby and baseball don't deter them from raking in medals because they encourage sports at the grassroots level, without bureaucratic red tape. In India, we push our children to become doctors and engineers and obsess over cricket, creating a conveyor belt of cricketers.
Sports like kabaddi and hockey aren't practiced by the elite; they are seen as beneath them. The upper middle class and middle class are obsessed with cricket, while a few drift to badminton. The elite play tennis, golf, and pool (the table variety). But how many have proven themselves at the highest level? A handful. Formula racing is only for the ultra-rich. Thousands of talents are left in the lurch due to these divides. All games should be available to everyone at the grassroots, where great sportsmen are born.
Most sports bodies are governed by politicians or their families, who have no clue about the game. Team spots are often bought or traded for sexual Favors. But the biggest crime is committed by parents who see sports as a pastime, not as a talent or ability.
Will this attitude change, yes it is possible, while these changes won't happen overnight, the growing interest in sports other than cricket, driven by recent successes and increased visibility, suggests that a shift in sports culture is possible. It requires sustained effort and a change in mindset across the board. If all stakeholders—government, private sector, media, educational institutions, and society—work together, the sports culture in India can indeed evolve to support and celebrate a wide range of sports and athletes.
In the end, I wish the Indian team a great haul of medals to inspire the next generation to take up sports. Let's hope the glitz and glamour of the opening ceremony turn into a golden opportunity for our athletes. And let's promise to support all our sports, not just cricket.